Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
[Biologic effect of transforming growth factor-β1 on urethra cells cultured in vitro]
Hong-feng Zhai1, Lin-gang Xu, Zai-lan Guo
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China. zhaihongfeng@sina.com
Objective:
To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on growth controlling and the expression of connective tissue growth factor mRNA(CTGF mRNA) in urethra epithelium cells and fibroblasts cultured in vitro.
Methods:
Urethra epithelial cells and fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and identified. The fourth generation cells were divided into control group (cultured by cell medium without TGF-β1) and experimental groups(cultured by cell medium containing TGF-β1 1, 2, 4 and 8 µg/L), the vital force of cells were examined by MTT and cell counting, the expression of CTGF mRNA were examined by RT-PCR after 24 hours.
Results:
The optical density and cell count decreased in experimental groups of urethra epithelium cells and increased in experimental groups of fibroblasts with the concentration of TGF-β1 being heightened compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of CTGF mRNA increased with the heightening concentration of TGF-β1 in all experimental groups of urethra epithelium cells and fibroblasts by RT-PCR (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
TGF-β1 can inhibit the growth of urethra epithelium cells and promote the growth of fibroblasts in vitro, it can induce the expression of CTGF mRNA in two cells above-mentioned.

